American Sign Language: Name Signs
posted September 10, 2024 #
Unexpectedly found myself scrounging around looking up information about American Sign Language Name Signs. Simply put, it's "a unique identifier that reflects how deaf people perceive you." There's a very important distinction in there. It's not your name, it's how you are perceived - possibly your personality or role or some physical characteristic. It is not just your legal name.
This explanatory video from Deaf Services Unlimited founder Diana Kautzky shows some great examples and some of the rules behind them. About midway through, she says "There's a strong cultural traditional and history in the giving of name signs." Again, this is fascinating as it a name for you that is kind of earned or assigned. I find this to be a wonderful practice.
You can read up on the different types of names and how they are assigned, the origins of Name Signs or just look at some examples.
This explanatory video from Deaf Services Unlimited founder Diana Kautzky shows some great examples and some of the rules behind them. About midway through, she says "There's a strong cultural traditional and history in the giving of name signs." Again, this is fascinating as it a name for you that is kind of earned or assigned. I find this to be a wonderful practice.
You can read up on the different types of names and how they are assigned, the origins of Name Signs or just look at some examples.